Police are appealing for witnesses after a would-be thief was captured on security cameras trying to smash his way into a town centre jewellery store.

The incident took place at around 2am on Wednesday and the video clearly shows a hooded man looking in the window of CW Sellors in Victoria Square, carrying a bag and a claw hammer, then returning seconds later to start smashing away at the window.

After several attempts to break the glass, he suddenly gives up and runs up the cobbled square, leaving the window badly damaged, but its contents still inside.